NBPTS Exceptional Needs Specialist Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Resource

The successful resolution of Erikson's Stage 3, Initiative vs. Guilt, is associated with a sense of purpose and self-confidence. During this stage, typically occurring between the ages of three and six, children are exploring their environment, asserting their power and control over their actions and the world around them. When children successfully navigate this stage, they develop the ability to initiate activities and express their ideas, which fosters a sense of initiative.

Achieving a sense of purpose means that children feel capable and confident in their abilities to plan and execute tasks, leading to an overall sense of self-worth. This intrinsic motivation serves as a foundation for future stages of development, allowing children to take on challenges with a positive mindset and build strong relationships and identities in later years.

The other options do not capture the primary emotional and psychological outcomes of this stage. Dependence on caregivers doesn't align with the initiative that children are expected to develop during this phase. Formation of strong friendships is indeed important but emerges more prominently in later stages, while fear of failure in social settings can be a consequence of unresolved guilt rather than a successful outcome of this stage. Thus, the sense of purpose and self-confidence are the hallmarks of a positive outcome in this developmental stage.